Tuolumne County, CA Swimming Pools & Spas: Above-Ground Pools (2026)

The Tuolumne County Residential Swimming Pool Enclosure handout expressly includes above-ground pools in its definition of a swimming pool (any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing holding water over 18 inches deep, including in-ground, above-ground, on-ground, and fixed wading pools). That means an above-ground pool requires a County building permit and a barrier meeting the same 60-inch height and anti-climb standards as an in-ground pool. The handout specifically addresses above-ground installations: the maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier may be increased to 4 inches when the barrier is mounted on top of the above-ground pool structure (rather than the standard 2-inch maximum). All other barrier requirements still apply, including the 1-3/4 inch opening limit, gate self-closing/self-latching hardware, and anti-climb restrictions on horizontal members and decorative work. Zoning-wise, a pool is an accessory use under Chapter 17.38 of the County Zoning Ordinance, allowed in conjunction with a primary residential use and subject to the same district standards. As with any pool, the barrier must be inspected and approved before the pool is filled.